My BlogDescriptionMid-code CrisisTue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00Green Shoots!David Griffinhttp://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/green-shoots!/Britain's economy showed encouraging signs of renewed health during February, March and April this year &nbsp;prompting financial experts to whisper that recovery may be underway. After narrowly avoiding a potentially catastrophic triple-dip recession, the country's output rose by 0.8% - the best performance since last year's London Olympics. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research predicted that the economy will not match its 2008 peak until 2015, but the figures do suggest a significant move in the right direction. The manufacturing industry has perfomed well during the early part of the year and many believe that this could be the precursor to full blown recovery. While it is still far too early to get out the bunting and crack open the Champagne, there is genuine cause for optimism and a faint glimmer of light at the end of the ecomonic tunnel. A key factor in economic recovery is comsumer confidence and the propensity to spend. If the Britsh public moves from saving to spending then the cycle of growth can develop the momentum it needs to fuel the fire.&nbsp; So how does all of this effect you? Well, maybe you are feeling sufficiently confident to make one or two of those purchases which you put off from last year. Perhaps you can be tempted by one of the many offers of good deals on a new car. If so, then you will want an equally good deal on your insurance. If you are a member of the Police Family then you need look no further than Police Insure for all your insurance needs.&nbsp; Our deals are available to police officers (serving and retired), special constables, police staff and partners. You'll be amazed at how much YOU can save with Police Insure. Call us now on 0161 762 4416 or visit www.policeinsure.co.uk David Griffin &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;http://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/green-shoots!/
http://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/green-shoots!/Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 Comparison Websites - Independent?David Griffinhttp://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/comparison-websites-independent/Price comparison websites were last week accused of letting down customers by being more interested in earning commission than in offering sound financial advice. Four in five potential customers visit these sites in the belief that the guidance on offer is impartial, not realising that the website operators receive up to £1billion a year in fees from a variety of grateful service providers. &nbsp; Leading names such as MoneySupermarket, Gocompare and Comparthemarket collect millions of pounds from banks, as well as companies selling savings accounts, loans, energy, phone services and insurance. Financial experts claim that the sites guide customers towards those companies which pay a commission, rather than the best value services. Independent website Candid Money warns that consumers routinely lose out by hundreds of pounds by accepting the advice given. Candid Money's Justin Modray last week commented 'Many customers think that comparison websites are independent - what they don't always realise is that these sites pocket big sums via sales commissions.' &nbsp; In the light of the concerns voiced by a number of influential organisations and individuals, the new watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority, has announced plans to investigate how price comparison websites operate. In the meantime, however, the sites continue to prove popular with the public, many of whom remain unaware that there are likely to be better deals available to them. &nbsp; If you are in need of insurance products, and you are a member of the Police Family, then there is good news. You have no need to put your trust in a comparison site, nor do you need to waste valuable time obtaining countless quotes. The best deals for you are available from Police Insure. We specialise in offering heavily discounted insurance to police officers (serving and retired), special constables and police staff, as well as the partners of these people. &nbsp; Call us now on 0161 762 4416 or visit www.policeinsure.co.uk for immediate cover. &nbsp;http://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/comparison-websites-independent/
http://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/comparison-websites-independent/Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 Chinese Take AwayDavid Griffinhttp://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/posts/2013/april/chinese-take-away/China is cementing its reputation as the most important market for the car industry.&nbsp; Chinese car sales are up 13 percent from a year ago, with sales expected to top 20 million this year.&nbsp; By comparison, total sales in the United States this year are forecast at just a little more than 15 million vehicles.&nbsp; The importance of the Chinese market is reflected in the size and sophistication of the Shanghai motor show, where manufacturers are capitalizing on China's growing demand for luxury cars and SUV's. Order books are bulging and consumer confidence is high, with China's growing middle classes prepared to invest heavily in style and image. Ford Motors' Dave Schoch is counting on it. "So you've got 30 million customers out there, all with different tastes and different affordability levels.&nbsp; And what Ford wants to do is bring the power and leverage of our global line-up, you know from small to medium to large, into China" Schoch said. But the competition is fierce. &nbsp; "We are increasing our local content here in this country. And next month we are opening the first engine plant with the capacity of 250,000 units outside of Germany for Mercedes engines," said Daimler AG Chairman, Dieter Zetsche. The Chinese see cars as a potent symbol of success. Autoforesight analyst Yale Zhang says the rising demand for premium and luxury automobiles reflects China's emergence as an economic superpower. "This market is becoming more like European or American style entry-level premium like Mercedes C-class or BMW-3 series.&nbsp; This kind of entry-level premium is growing very fast," Zhang said. Demand has been especially high for larger, sport utility vehicles (SUV's).&nbsp; Karsten Engel, who heads BMW's China Group, says the roomy interiors appeal to China's newly rich -- even though some will probably never drive them. "The ultimate driving machine, you probably experience a lot from the rear seat with your driver, so you need more space, you want more space.&nbsp; You want to have the possibility to work in the car," Engel said. That's something luxury automaker Bugatti's marketing director Stefan Brungs understands. "This is what the Chinese have learned and perceived as luxury -- to sit in the back and be chauffeured," Brungs said. Despite the high demand for larger automobiles, environmental issues and fuel consumption concerns are contributing to the heightened interest in green, fuel efficient vehicles. &nbsp; "Four years ago, when we introduced the concept of the electric car, most of our colleagues in the industry thought that we had lost our minds.&nbsp; Now it doesn't look so stupid, you know?," said Nissan's Asia Vice President Andy Palmer. But for now, analysts say new hybrid and electric technology is likely to take a back seat in China.&nbsp; Despite higher government taxes on larger gasoline combustion engines, new data show sales of SUV's are up nearly 50 percent from a year ago and likely to double by 2015. If YOU are considering buying a new vehicle and you are a police officer (serving or retired), a special constable or a member of police staff (or a partner of any of these) then you can take advantage of some of the best deals available on your insurance. You'll be amazed how much YOU can save with POLICE INSURE. Contact us now on 0161 762 4416 or visit www.policeinsure.co.uk David Griffin &nbsp;http://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/posts/2013/april/chinese-take-away/
http://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/posts/2013/april/chinese-take-away/Mon, 29 April 2013 00:00:00 Times are Changing !David Griffinhttp://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/posts/2013/march/times-are-changing-!/Times are Changing &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; On Sunday 31st March we will all dutifully perform the time honoured ritual of putting our clocks forward one hour to British Summer Time (BST). This twice yearly chore may provide us with a vivid reminder of just how many clocks we own, but how many of us really understand why we meddle with time? &nbsp; The extra hour of daylight gained by advancing our timepieces at the start of summer saves the country millions of pounds in energy costs and also reduces the number of traffic collisions. Statistically, more road accidents take place in the morning than at any other time of day and dark winter mornings are particularly dangerous. As well as the human suffering caused by accidents, the resulting insurance claims have the knock on effect of pushing up premiums, so any way of improving road safety has to be a worthwhile exercise. &nbsp; It may, therefore, surprise you to learn that the original suggestion to put clocks forward in summer was intended as a joke! Following a somewhat boozey night out in 1784 Benjamin Franklin, an American political delegate to France, was awakened at 6am by sunshine streaming through the window of his Paris hotel. At this time the cost of lamp oil was a hot topic, many claiming that its price was being kept artificially high by unscrupulous traders. Franklin nursed his hangover and mused over the insanity of wasting daylight hours sleeping, then spending money on artificial lighting in the evening. To general hilarity, he composed a paper proposing putting the clocks forward one hour at the start of summer, thereby gaining an extra hour of daylight. &nbsp; It was more than 100 years before the issue was raised again, this time by New Zealander George Hudson in a report to the Wellington Philosophical Society in 1895. Twelve years later, London builder William Willett echoed Hudson's sentiments in a document proposing the adoption of BST. &nbsp; In 1914, just as the topic was beginning to receive serious consideration, the outbreak of the Great War presented politicians and policy makers with more pressing matters on which to dwell. By 1916, however, the Germans had recognised the advantages of light saving between May and October and the potential benefits to their war effort. On 1 st May that year the Central Powers of Germany and Austria put their clocks forward by one hour, beginning a trend which was to sweep the world. Britain followed suit on 21 st May, establishing a system which has been with us ever since. &nbsp; Australia and Canada joined the move to light saving by putting their clocks forward in 1917, whereas the USA did not. In fact, it was not until as recently as 1966 that the Americans adopted a common system. Before that, US towns and cities were free to decide their own time settings, resulting in a confusing and chaotic situation. &nbsp; Since 1966 most of the world, except the equatorial countries where daylight hours are fairly constant summer and winter, have adopted a light saving system. The last country to do so was Mexico in 1992. Prolonged and often heated debate delayed the process for the Mexicans, and top of the list of objections was that it would put a strain on marital relations. Many Latin lovers complained that the loss of an hour in bed when the clocks went forward would put a stop to their traditional 'mananero' - literally a 'morning quickie.' &nbsp; &nbsp; So, as you drive to and from work you are benefiting from the extra daylight hour which was the humorous idea of Benjamin Franklin more than 200 years ago. Also, if you are a police officer (serving or retired), a special constable or member of police staff (or partner of any of these) you can further benefit from some of the lowest premiums available for your car insurance. &nbsp; Police Insure specialises in offering discounted insurance for members of the police family. Payments can be spread over the year, making your cover even more affordable. &nbsp; You'll be amazed how much YOU can save with Police Insure &nbsp; Call us NOW on 0161 762 4416 for a free quote or visit www.policeinsure.co.uk &nbsp; David Griffinhttp://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/posts/2013/march/times-are-changing-!/
http://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/posts/2013/march/times-are-changing-!/Tue, 26 March 2013 00:00:00 Insurance Fraud - A Victimless Crime?David Griffinhttp://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/posts/2013/march/insurance-fraud-a-victimless-crime/The Association of British Insurers estimates the annual cost of fraudulent insurance claims in the UK to be in the region of £2 billion, adding around £50 to cost of every policy taken out. Small scale, opportunistic fraud has been a problem since the insurance industry began and is likely to remain so. What has changed over the past few years is the involvement of organised criminal gangs attracted by increasingly large pay-outs encouraged by a growing blame culture. Some of the established gangs that had previously specialised in more 'traditional' criminal activities, like armed robbery and extortion, have been quick to recognize the potential benefits of operating in a less hazardous field of crime. Insurance fraudsters are unlikely to face teams of armed police officers and even if convicted, the penalties for embezzling insurance companies have historically been light. &nbsp; Insurance fraud has long been regarded as a 'victimless crime', with little public sympathy for the wealthy, often multi-national organisations targeted by the criminals. The British public, while quick to complain about spiralling premiums, have not in the past shown much appetite for action against the fraudsters. It is against this back drop that the big operators have muscled in on a very lucrative and increasingly violent field of activity. &nbsp; Many of the 'Crash for Cash' stings, where road collisions are deliberately staged with the aim of making claims for personal injury, are the work of criminal gangs who recruit and pay the participants. The staged scenarios have become more and more elaborate and it was inevitable that we would eventually see a fatality. On 11 th June 2011 Miss Baljinder Kaur Gill, an innocent driver caught up in a staged collision on the A40 at Denham, Buckinghamshire, tragically lost her life. The subsequent conviction and imprisonment of the offenders was scant consolation for Miss Gill's devastated family. &nbsp; The Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) is a team of 34 City of London detectives and financial investigators funded by the Association of British Insurers. Led by Detective Chief Inspector David Wood, the team travels the length and breadth of the country investigating insurance crime and bringing offenders to justice. The team can be contacted on 020 7601 2222 for advice or to refer a case (for more details visit the website www.cityoflondon.police.uk) &nbsp; &nbsp; Police Insure also works hard to reduce insurance fraud and to keep premiums as low as possible. If you are a police officer (serving or retired), special constable or member of police staff (or the partner of any of these) you can benefit from some of the lowest premiums available in the UK. &nbsp; Go to www.policeinsure.co.uk or call us on 0161 762 4416 - You'll be amazed how much YOU can save ! &nbsp; David Griffin &nbsp; &nbsp;http://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/posts/2013/march/insurance-fraud-a-victimless-crime/
http://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/posts/2013/march/insurance-fraud-a-victimless-crime/Mon, 11 March 2013 00:00:00 Cars of the Future - Who Needs a Driver?David Griffinhttp://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/cars-of-the-future-who-needs-a-driver/Not so many years ago the idea of driverless cars zipping along the country's roads was the stuff of science fiction. Recent developments in the USA, however, are turning fiction into fact. Google engineer Sebastian Thrun and his team of specialists at the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in Nevada have produced a saloon car capable of navigating the state's roads without the need for human intervention. New laws introduced in Nevada in June 2011 legalised the use of driverless vehicles and the first licence was issued in May 2012 to a Toyota Prius fitted with Google's experimental driverless technology. Other vehicles, including Audi and Lexus models, have since been licensed and the fleet has now completed over 300,000 miles on roads across Nevada, California and Florida. During these trials there have been just 2 minor collisions - One taking place while the researcher sat behind the wheel was tempoarily in control and one when a stationary Prius was hit from behind by a manned vehicle. The good safety record of driverless cars was to be expected as 80% of road collisions are caused by driver error. As technology improves, the number of incidents caused by mechanical failure continues to decrease, so can we look forward to a future without the human suffering and financial cost caused by traffic accidents? Whatever the future may hold in terms of improved road safety, the situation is already creating a dilemma for insurance companies. Licences for the new vehicles are issued to the car, not to a driver, so should the same principle apply to vehicle insurance? If so, how should premiums be calculated? What are the risk factors? Will vehicle insurance, as we know it, become a thing of the past? The Chief Attorney for California's Department of Motor Vehicle Licensing recently said "The technology is ahead of the law in many areas and is advancing so quickly that it is in danger of outstripping existing legislation, much of which dates back to the era of the horse drawn carriage." If you are tempted to up-grade to a driverless car with a view to a reduction in your insurance premiums then think carefully. The cost of the driverless technology equipment adds £180,000 to the price of the basic Toyota Prius, so you are unlikely to be enjoying a robotic, chauffeur driven ride home from the pub anytime soon. If, however, you are a police officer, special constable or member of police staff (serving or retired) or the partner of any of these you can already benefit from some of the best deals available on car and motorcycle insurance, typically up to 40% cheaper than our competitors. For a free quote call 0161 762 4416 or go to www.policeinsure.co.uk. You'll be amazed how much YOU can save! &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;http://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/cars-of-the-future-who-needs-a-driver/
http://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/cars-of-the-future-who-needs-a-driver/Mon, 04 March 2013 00:00:00 What did the Romans ever do for us?David Griffinhttp://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/what-did-the-romans-ever-do-for-us/&nbsp; &nbsp; Well, quite a lot actually - including introducing the world's first ever life insurance cover in the year 600 BC. The policies were administered by 'Benevolent Societies' managed by the governing 'Senate' and provided financial support for the families of the deceased. The funds paid out on the death of an insured person and were intended to cover funeral costs and to provide some financial security for surviving family members. &nbsp; You may be surprised to learn that insurance can trace its history back 600 years before the birth of Christ, but it actually dates back even further than that. The Romans were by no means the first civilisation to devise a system to manage risks and protect valuable assets. Long before Caesar's legions had established the far flung borders of the Roman Empire, traders were insuring their goods before setting off on the long and often hazardous journeys to distant lands. &nbsp; The earliest record of a system which we would recognise as insurance appears around 3,000 BC when Chinese and Babylonion traders took steps to safeguard ships' cargoes. The traders would pay a third party to transport the goods, on the understanding that the trader would be reimbursed should the goods be lost in transit. The transporter would often split the cargo into multiple, smaller loads to reduce the risk of total loss. &nbsp; A thousand years later in 2,000 BC the ancient Persians developed the insurance idea to cover things other than commercial goods. Each 'Nowruz' (New Year's Eve) wealthy noblemen paid a bounty of 10,000 Derrik to the king to insure valuable family assets against catastrophe. &nbsp; In 1,000 BC traders from the Greek island of Rhodes developed a system called the 'General Average' whereby each would pay a bounty to a central fund kept secure by an independent third party. Any trader losing a shipment would be reimbursed from this fund. &nbsp; By the time of Christ's birth, insurance was a well established concept across the trading world, remaining largely unchanged until the 12 th century AD. An agreement between traders and the rulers of Anatolia, in what is now Turkey, resulted in the world's first state sponsored insurance policies, where claimants were reimbursed from the national treasury. &nbsp; Post renaissance Europe saw the emergence of an 'insurance industry' in response to the increased complexities of international trade. In the 1680's Mr Edward Lloyd opened his now famous coffee house in London and it soon became popular with ship owners, traders, merchants and captains. They were soon joined by a new breed of businessman - the underwriter - and insurance deals were agreed and signed over steaming cups of Brazilian coffee. &nbsp; The 1680's also saw the establishment of the first fire insurance company, set up by Mr Nicholas Barbon. This venture was a direct consequence of the Great Fire of London in 1666 when over 13,000 homes were destroyed without compensation. &nbsp; The 19 th century saw the birth of accident insurance and the beginnings of regulation of the rapidly growing insurance business. It was in the 1800's that criminals first took an interest in the insurance industry and the opportunities it presented for embezzlement. Customers began to lie about values and events in order to make dishonest claims and insurance inspired murders began to make the news headlines. It was against this backdrop that insurance investigators appeared on the scene and a new job description entered the English language - The Loss Adjuster. People also began to question the morality of an industry which was prepared to insure slaves as if they were mere chattels. As recently as 1840, Nautilus Insurance of London sold almost 500 slave insurance policies to traders and slave owners. In fact, the practice of offering slave insurance policies continued right up to the end of the American Civil War in 1865. &nbsp; The early 20 th century saw a further development in the industry, with entire nations taking out insurance policies as a means of guaranteeing financial security. The 1900's also saw the introduction of legislation making insurance compulsory in many areas of activity. &nbsp; And so, to the present day. &nbsp; 5,000 years have elapsed since mankind first came up with the idea of insuring valuable assets. We live in an increasingly complicated world where our individual insurance needs are equally complicated. &nbsp; 21 st century customers &nbsp; Require &nbsp; 21 st century insurance products &nbsp; Provided by a &nbsp; 21 st century organisation. &nbsp; That organisation is Police Insure. As a member of the police family you can take advantage of the best deals available - typically up to 40% cheaper than the competition. &nbsp; We offer bespoke policies tailored to our clients' specific needs. We are a customer focussed company offering professional services and appropriate products at the right price. We will be there for you when you need us most. &nbsp; Contact us now on 0161 762 4416 or visit the website at www.policeinsure.co.uk for a free quote &nbsp; You'll be amazed at how much YOU can save! &nbsp; David Griffin www.policeinsure.co.uk &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;http://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/what-did-the-romans-ever-do-for-us/
http://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/what-did-the-romans-ever-do-for-us/Mon, 25 February 2013 00:00:00 Why Make a Song and Dance about Motor InsuranceDavid Griffinhttp://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/posts/2013/february/18/why-make-a-song-and-dance-about-motor-insurance/&nbsp; Why Make a Song and Dance about Car Insurance? &nbsp; Did you know that your occupation can dramatically affect what you pay to insure your car? Recently released figures reveal that nurses enjoy some of the cheapest premiums in the UK, whereas lap dancers are likely to pay around four times as much! &nbsp; Racing drivers and professional footballers pay around £1,500 a year, with scrap metal dealers and fun fair workers not far behind them, forking out a whopping £1,300. &nbsp; As with all statistical data, of course, we need to look at the facts behind the figures. Most nurses do not travel to work in a top of the range Hummer with personalised alloys and blacked out windows, while your average Premier League footballer would not wish to be seen at the wheel of a pastel coloured Fiat 500. Occupations, however, are still a major consideration for insurers when quoting premiums and your job says a lot about what kind of a risk you are. Nurses are generally considered to be a low risk and therefore pay an average of around £250 per year for vehicle insurance. &nbsp; Police officers (serving and retired), special constables and police staff (as well as their partners) are a very low risk to insurers. As a general rule they do not drink and drive, they have few accidents and they do not make fraudulent claims. So surely, as a member of this group of professionals, you should be able to benefit from the cheapest insurance deals available. Well, now you can ! &nbsp; Police Insure specialises in offering heavily discounted car and motorcycle insurance to members of the police family. Premiums can be as much as 40% cheaper than the best deal you can find on a comparison website. Payments can be spread over the year, making your cover even more affordable. &nbsp; Call us NOW on 0161 762 4416 or go to www.policeinsure.co.uk for a free quote - You'll be amazed how much YOU can save. &nbsp; Police Insure also offer the full range of other insurance products - For more details visit the website. &nbsp; David Griffin www.policeinsure.co.ukhttp://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/posts/2013/february/18/why-make-a-song-and-dance-about-motor-insurance/
http://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/posts/2013/february/18/why-make-a-song-and-dance-about-motor-insurance/Mon, 18 February 2013 00:00:00 Why buy from Police Insure?Adam Slaterhttp://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/posts/2013/february/5/why-buy-from-police-insure/Police Insure provides an un-rivalled service to serving retired Police Officers, Specials, Staff and Partners. We are now approved by the following Police Federations: Cheshire, Leicestershire,Warwickshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, GMP, Derbyshire, Humberside, West Midlands, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Met Inspectors, Cleveland, Northumbria, North Yorkshire,&nbsp;Thames Valley, Civil Nuclear Police, Devon and Cornwall, West Yorkshire, North Wales, Hertfordshire, West Mercia, Wiltshire, Dorset,&nbsp;Gloucestershire, EPIC, Cheshire NARPO, Superintendents Association, Group 48 (SOCA). Discounted rates from a select panel of insurers specially for &nbsp;serving and retired Police Officers, Specials, Staff and Partners. Free Personal Business Use' on every policy. Part of the Advantage Insurance Centres which have been in business for over 18 years.http://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/posts/2013/february/5/why-buy-from-police-insure/
http://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/posts/2013/february/5/why-buy-from-police-insure/Tue, 05 February 2013 00:00:00 New Police Insure website now up and running!Peter Tunstallhttp://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/posts/2013/february/4/new-police-insure-website-now-up-and-running!/Police Insure are delighted to announce that their new look website is now up and running. The new site showcases the redesign of the brand look and feel created by Tangent Design, Manchester. Garry Riding MD of Police Insure said, we have worked with Tangent now for a number of years. We are very happy with the new site, and feel our customers will find it both informative and easy to use." Police Insure provide car, home, motorcycle and other insurance products to serving and retired&nbsp; Police Officers, Specials, Staff and Partners .http://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/posts/2013/february/4/new-police-insure-website-now-up-and-running!/
http://www.policeinsure.co.uk/blog/posts/2013/february/4/new-police-insure-website-now-up-and-running!/Mon, 04 February 2013 00:00:00